Law enforcement: Rising crime rates rooted in drugs

Lack of funding, prevention program cuts add to the toll

1:27 AM,
Jan. 12, 2014

Muskingum County Judge Eric Martin listens as Bradley Boyer tells his story Friday after a graduation ceremony for HOPE Court. The court diverts prison-bound drug offenders to a program to help them fight their addictions and turn their lives around without prison.

Written by

Patrick O?Neill
Staff Writer

The sun was setting as Patrol Officer Shane Starkey walked up the stairs of an apartment complex on the south end of Zanesville.

The call came in as an assault, and the police department responded as such, sending two units to the call. But as Starkey descended the stairs from the apartment minutes later, it became clear the situation was far from dire. Waving to another officer, he swung open his cruiser door and got inside.

Some sort of fight had taken place inside the apartment Dec. 20, but by the time Starkey arrived, he said, the two people were talking peaceably. It was tough to tell who started ...